I was born in the Dominican Republic, but my family immigrated to Miami, Florida when I was five, though I am still very proudly Dominican and my Hispanic heritage is a very strong part of my personal identity. Truth be told, Miami wasn't the place for me. As soon as I had the chance to leave, I took it, and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in California for college. I earned a degree in physics, but I'm also passionate about history and anthropology. I currently live in Paris where I teach and am preparing to start a Master's program. Meanwhile, I really want to take advantage of the school calendar and travel a bit! I hope to immerse myself in different cultures and learn new perspectives.
I made sure to learn different languages in school, not just because I want to travel but because language changes comprehension. Reading or hearing something in it's original language is a much better experience than reading or hearing a translation. Travelling is the same.
When I was in college, the volatile cultural and political landscape affected me quite a bit, and I decided to take an opportunity to movie to Paris for work, and I plan on staying here long-term.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

My passion is traveling! There is so much to see and experience in the world, I refuse to put it off. I think this is also a great opportunity to make friends and learn about local cultures, ideas, and perspectives. There is much more to every region than the stereotypes we're fed through TV and movies, and I want to really experience and understand the lifestyle and mindset of the places I visit. I've already had a couple good experiences staying with friends of friends, so I figured I would join this community. I rent a small studio in a beautiful neighbourhood of central Paris, but I often spend weekends at my cousin's house about an hour away, and it's a shame to leave it empty I'm happy to host one or two people at a time.

Interests

Jazz, rugby, physics, volleyball, inter-cultural dynamics, socio-economic justice... And Beyoncé :)
Also food. I love food.

• dancing
• bachata
• dining
• movies
• reading
• tv
• traveling
• jazz
• rugby
• volleyball
• anthropology
• history
• languages
• physics

Music, Movies, and Books

I was lucky to be born into a musical family, so my love and appreciation for music runs deeeeep. I love many different styes and genres, and look forward to hearing recommendations from my hosts :)
I have way too many favourite books to count (I've had to wear glasses since I was seven years old thanks to my penchant for staying up till 3am to read), a lot of classics and a couple contemporary, but I think the book that really lit up my love for words was the Phantom Tollbooth - highly recommend for adults and kids alike!
I will watch any movie involving Mel Brooks.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My diploma finally came in the mail. I can actually say I have a physics degree from Stanford University. It's the hardest thing I've ever done.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love teaching my friends how to dance bachata, merengue, and salsa. You'd be surprised at how easy they can be.
If you're interested in learning about physics, the Caribbean, or the good, bad, and ugly of the United States (and why I left), I'm more than happy to talk about all these things! I live for good conversation.

What I Can Share with Hosts

In-depth unpacking of the past and and present racial, political, and economic dynamics in the United States and Latin America.
For starters.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cayman Islands, Germany, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin (French part), Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Dominican Republic, France, United States